bradtx

Hi All,

While the springs in my '89 are original (and nicely sagged ~1")
something popped up by surprise lately.

After installing '95 front spindles so I could install the PBRs from my
'00 GT I noticed at the next oil change that the swaybar had been
hitting the drain plug for the front sump. Luckily I'd only driven
'bout 400 miles and the only damage was some wear to the drain plug.
(I ran one SOLO2 event and it was the most tail happy it'd ever been!)

Seems that the extra 1.5" in front track was just enough stress to sag
the springs just a tad more. The stock length for the free area on my
'89's endlinks was 4.5", I installed a 4" endlink and all is well.

I cringe to think how much stress was placed on the oil pan when
hitting a large dip in the toll road around here as the center of the
swaybar swings rearward and up when the springs compress!

Anyway just something else to check. :)

bradtx

Michael Johnson, PE

bradtx wrote:
> Hi All,
>
> While the springs in my '89 are original (and nicely sagged ~1")
> something popped up by surprise lately.
>
> After installing '95 front spindles so I could install the PBRs from my
> '00 GT I noticed at the next oil change that the swaybar had been
> hitting the drain plug for the front sump. Luckily I'd only driven
> 'bout 400 miles and the only damage was some wear to the drain plug.
> (I ran one SOLO2 event and it was the most tail happy it'd ever been!)
>
> Seems that the extra 1.5" in front track was just enough stress to sag
> the springs just a tad more. The stock length for the free area on my
> '89's endlinks was 4.5", I installed a 4" endlink and all is well.
>
> I cringe to think how much stress was placed on the oil pan when
> hitting a large dip in the toll road around here as the center of the
> swaybar swings rearward and up when the springs compress!
>
> Anyway just something else to check. :)

I have '94-'95 spindles on my '89 and never had any problem like the one
you described. I have plenty of clearance between the roll bar and
drain plug. Maybe something isn't quite right on the installation?
Maybe the roll bar bushings are shot and it has too much play.

bradtx

Michael, The poly swaybar bushings are brand new and the frt. engine
mounts are only five years old.

A friend of mine with a Mustang shop told me that sometimes when a Fox
is lowered the swaybar moves far enough to the rear that it's required
to lift the front a bit to remove the front drain plug during an oil
change. The vast majority have no issues/problems what-so-ever.

(My SVT parts guy also informed me that there is possibly four
different diameter frt. swaybars used on '89s.)

While my situation is the only one I'm aware of, the gist of the post
was to make folks who are thinking about, or have recently lowered
their cars to be made aware.

bradtx